Thermostatic condensing gas water heater and control method therefor

ABSTRACT

A thermostatic condensing gas water heater, comprising a burner; a first heat exchanger ( 7 ), a second heat exchanger ( 4 ), a water inlet pipe ( 10 ), and a water outlet pipe ( 9 ) provided in succession along the flow direction of the burnt flue gas; a controller; and a water flow channel connecting the first heat exchanger ( 7 ) and the second heat exchanger ( 4 ) in parallel between the water inlet pipe ( 10 ) and the water outlet pipe ( 9 ), wherein flow control valves ( 3, 5 ) capable of adjusting the water flow distribution of the first heat exchanger ( 7 ) and the second heat exchanger ( 4 ) are provided on the water flow channel and controlled by the controller.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a water heater and a control method therefor, and particularly, to a thermostatic condensing gas water heater and a control method therefor, which belong to the technical field of gas appliances.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As known to the applicant, the existing gas instantaneous water heaters all have the problem of “coldwater sandwich”, i.e., during the usage of the hot water, when the user turns on the water again in a short time after it is turned off, the outlet water temperature of the water heater fluctuates due to the reasons such as the ignition preparation delay during startup, the water temperature rise during shutdown, etc., and especially the water temperature drops suddenly. This phenomenon is particularly apparent in winter, and the user's comfort in using the water heater is greatly influenced. In order to solve the problem, most of the water heater manufacturers adopt auxiliary heating measures such as utilizing the recycled water by adding a water pump, or connecting the water heater in series with a small electronic water heater which is often referred to Little Kitchen Aid, but the user's investment cost is obviously increased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to propose, with respect to the above defects in the prior art, a thermostatic condensing gas water heater which can eliminate the phenomenon of a rapid temperature drop when the water is turned on again in a short time after it is turned off during the usage of the water heater, almost without increasing the cost, and provide corresponding control method therefor.

In one aspect, the disclosure provides a method of controlling a thermostatic condensing gas water heater, the method comprising: providing a burner, providing a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a water inlet pipe, and a water outlet pipe in succession along a flow direction of the burnt flue gas, providing a controller, and providing a water flow channel connecting the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger in parallel between the water inlet pipe and the water outlet pipe. The method further comprises the steps of providing flow control valves in the water flow channel and controlling with the controller the flow control valves to adjust the water flow distribution of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger. The method further comprises the steps of providing an electrical heating device in the second heat exchanger and controlling with the controller the electrical heating device in the second heat exchanger to heat the water in the second heat exchanger. The method comprises the steps of includes acquiring with the controller an outlet water temperature (Te) of the first heat exchanger and an outlet water temperature (Tc) of the second heat exchanger, reading with the controller a set temperature (Ts) and a controller preset temperature (Ta), controlling with the controller the electrical heating device so that the outlet water temperature (Tc) of the second heat exchanger approaches the controller preset temperature (Ta) when the outlet water temperature (Te) of the first heat exchanger is less than a sum of the set temperature (Ts) and a predetermined temperature tolerance (ΔT).

The second heat exchanger is a housing-and-tube heat exchanger which enables its housing to be communicated with the water inlet pipe and the water outlet pipe, and enables the burnt flue gas to pass through a pipeline in the housing.

The control method further comprises the step of adjusting with the controller the flow control valves according to a target flow proportion (β1=(Ts-Te)/(Tc-Te)) of the second heat exchanger, so that an outlet water temperature (To) of the water outlet pipe approaches the set temperature (Ts).

The control method further comprises the steps of acquiring with the controller the outlet water temperature (To) of the water outlet pipe, and adjusting with the controller the flow control valves in a predetermined step length according to an actual flow proportion (βs=(To-Te)/(Tc-Te)) of the second heat exchanger, so that the actual flow proportion (βs) approaches the target flow proportion (β1).

The control method further comprises the step of acquiring with the controller the outlet water temperature (Te) of the first heat exchanger, the outlet water temperature (Tc) of the second heat exchanger, and an outlet water temperature (To) of the water outlet pipe by detecting temperature sensors provided on the first heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger and the water outlet pipe, respectively.

By using the present invention, the latent heat of vaporization in the burnt flue gas is absorbed through the second heat exchanger (condensing heat exchanger) of the condensing gas water heater to heat the water in the second heat exchanger, without causing any additional cost. In addition, by means of the automatic control of the water flow distribution proportions of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, the problem that the water temperature drops when the water is turned on again after it is turned off during the usage of the hot water can be solved, so that the temperature of the hot water output from the water heater stably falls within a set temperature range, which ensures the user's comfort in usage and prevents any empyrosis to guarantee the safe usage. It is clear that the present invention not only efficiently utilizes the latent heat of vaporization in the burnt flue gas through the second heat exchanger (condensing heat exchanger) to improve the heat exchanger efficiency of the gas water heater, but also sufficiently utilizes the storage space in the condensing heat exchanger to tactfully solve the problem of “coldwater sandwich” in the usage of the gas instantaneous water heater.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is further described as follows with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a structure diagram of Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a control flowchart of Embodiment 1 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a structure diagram of Embodiment 2 of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a control flowchart of Embodiment 2 of FIG. 3.

In which,

1: flue gas discharge channel

2: water outlet

3: first flow control valve

4: second heat exchanger

5: second flow control valve

6: gas collection connector

7: first heat exchanger

8: combustion chamber

9: water outlet pipe

10: water inlet pipe

11: electrical heating rod

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1

The thermostatic condensing gas water heater of the embodiment is as shown in FIG. 1, a first heat exchanger (main heat exchanger) 7 and a second heat exchanger (condensing heat exchanger) 4 are provided in succession along the flow direction of the burnt flue gas of a combustion chamber 8 of a burner. The water flow channels of the first heat exchanger 7 and the second heat exchanger 4 are connected in parallel between a water inlet pipe 10 and a water outlet pipe 9, and provided with a first flow control valve 3 and a second flow control valve 5 controlled by a controller to adjust the water flow distribution proportions of the first heat exchanger 7 and the second heat exchanger 4, respectively. The water flow channel outlets of the first heat exchanger 7 and the second heat exchanger 4 are provided with a first temperature sensor Te and a second temperature sensor Tc, respectively, and the water outlet pipe 9 is provided with a third temperature sensor To. The signal output of each of the temperature sensors is connected to corresponding receiving port of the controller, while the control signal output of the controller is connected to the first flow control valve 3 and the second flow control valve 5.

A gas collection connector 6 is provided between the first heat exchanger 7 and the second heat exchanger 4 to form a flow channel of the flue gas. A condensate water outlet 2 is provided below a flue gas discharge channel 1 of the second heat exchanger 4.

During working, as shown in FIG. 2, when a user uses the water, a flow sensor senses a water flow sensing signal. The controller receives the temperature signals Tc, Te and To of respective temperature sensors, reads the user set temperature Ts, and controls in the following steps:

Step 1: comparing whether the temperature Tc of the second temperature sensor is less than or equal to the set temperature Ts, and if so, performing step 2; otherwise comparing whether the temperature Te of the first temperature sensor is less than or equal to the set temperature Ts, and if so, performing step 3; otherwise comparing whether the temperature Te of the first temperature sensor is less than or equal to the temperature Tc of the second temperature sensor, and if so, completely closing the second flow control valve; otherwise completely opening the second flow control valve; and then continuing the above comparisons.

Step 2: comparing whether the temperature Te of the first temperature sensor is less than or equal to the set temperature Ts, and if not, performing step 3; otherwise comparing whether the temperature Tc of the second temperature sensor is less than or equal to the temperature Te of the first temperature sensor, and if so, completely closing the second flow control valve; otherwise completely opening the second flow control valve; and then returning to step 1.

Step 3: calculating a target flow proportion 131 defined by a ratio of a difference (Ts-Te) between the set temperature and the temperature of the first temperature sensor to a difference (Tc-Te) between the temperature of the second temperature sensor and the temperature of the first temperature sensor; and calculating an actual flow proportion βs defined by a ratio of a difference (To-Te) between the temperature of the third temperature sensor and the temperature of the first temperature sensor to the difference (Tc-Te) between the temperature of the second temperature sensor and the temperature of the first temperature sensor.

Step 4: comparing whether the calculated target flow proportion β1 is less than or equal to the actual flow proportion βs, and if so, increasing the opening of the second flow control valve in a predetermined step length; otherwise decreasing the opening of the second flow control valve in the predetermined step length; and then returning to step 1.

Experiments show that by using the water heater and the control method therefor in the embodiment, the latent heat of vaporization in the burnt flue gas is absorbed through the second heat exchanger (condensing heat exchanger) of the condensing gas water heater to heat the water in the second heat exchanger, without causing any additional cost. Through the automatic control of the water flow distribution proportions of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger by the first and second flow control valves, the problem that the water temperature drops when the water is turned on again in a short time (e.g., 3-5 minutes) after it is turned off during the usage of the water heater can be solved, so that the temperature of the hot water output from the water heater stably falls within a range of the set temperature ±3° C., which greatly improves the user's comfort in usage and prevents any empyrosis to guarantee the safe usage.

Embodiment 2

The thermostatic condensing gas water heater of the embodiment is as shown in FIG. 3, and its basic structure is same as that of Embodiment 1, except that the second heat exchanger 4 is provided with an electrical heating rod 11 heating water therein and controlled by a controller.

During working, the controller acquires a temperature Te from a first temperature sensor and a temperature Tc from a second temperature sensor, and reads a set temperature Ts and a controller preset temperature Ta (Ta=Ts+ΔT, ΔT is a predetermined temperature tolerance). When Te<Ta and Tc<Ta, the controller controls the electrical heating device, so that the temperature Tc of the second temperature sensor approaches the controller preset temperature Ta. Please refer to FIG. 4 for the specific control flow, wherein it is judged that “combustion is stopped for more than a predetermined time” because the combustion afterheat can continue heating the heat exchanger within a certain time (e.g., 5 minutes), without starting the electrical heating. Other processes are easily understandable with reference to the above description, and herein are omitted.

After the water heater and the control method of the embodiment are adopted, the outlet water temperature Tc of the second heat exchanger is maintained at the preset temperature Ta when the user does not use the water. When the user starts to use the water, the water flow distribution proportions of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger are adjusted through the control method of Embodiment 1, so as to solve the discomfort caused by the “cold water section” in the water heater when the user starts to use the water.

The present invention may have other embodiments besides the above ones, e.g., the condensing heat exchanger may be a bellows heat exchanger. Any technical solution formed through an equivalent replacement or transform falls within the protection scope of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of controlling a thermostatic condensing gas water heater, the method comprising: providing a burner; providing a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a water inlet pipe, and a water outlet pipe in succession along a flow direction of the burnt flue gas; providing a controller; providing a water flow channel connecting the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger in parallel between the water inlet pipe and the water outlet pipe; providing flow control valves in the water flow channel; controlling with the controller the flow control valves to adjust the water flow distribution of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger; providing an electrical heating device in the second heat exchanger; controlling with the controller the electrical heating device in the second heat exchanger to heat the water in the second heat exchanger; acquiring with the controller an outlet water temperature (Te) of the first heat exchanger and an outlet water temperature (Tc) of the second heat exchanger; reading with the controller a set temperature (Ts) and a controller preset temperature (Ta); controlling with the controller the electrical heating device so that the outlet water temperature (Tc) of the second heat exchanger approaches the controller preset temperature (Ta) when the outlet water temperature (Te) of the first heat exchanger is less than a sum of the set temperature (Ts) and a predetermined temperature tolerance (ΔT).
 2. The control method according to claim 1, wherein the second heat exchanger is a housing-and-tube heat exchanger which enables its housing to be communicated with the water inlet pipe and the water outlet pipe, and enables the burnt flue gas to pass through a pipeline in the housing.
 3. The control method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of adjusting with the controller the flow control valves according to a target flow proportion (β1=(Ts-Te)/(Tc-Te)) of the second heat exchanger, so that an outlet water temperature (To) of the water outlet pipe approaches the set temperature (Ts).
 4. The control method according to claim 3, further comprising the steps of acquiring with the controller the outlet water temperature (To) of the water outlet pipe, and adjusting with the controller the flow control valves in a predetermined step length according to an actual flow proportion (βs=(To-Te)/(Tc-Te)) of the second heat exchanger, so that the actual flow proportion (βs) approaches the target flow proportion (β1).
 5. The control method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of acquiring with the controller the outlet water temperature (Te) of the first heat exchanger, the outlet water temperature (Tc) of the second heat exchanger, and an outlet water temperature (To) of the water outlet pipe by detecting temperature sensors provided on the first heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger and the water outlet pipe, respectively. 